Minister to partner states to create pathways for bicycles

chika ebuzor

June 6, 2018 2:50 AM

Amaechi said this when he received a delegation of Cyclists led by the President of Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) in Abuja.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi said on Tuesday that the ministry would partner with state governments to create easy pathways for bicycles across the country.

Amaechi said this when he received a delegation of Cyclists led by the President of Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) in Abuja.

He said that the use of bicycles on the road as an alternative means of transportation would help reduce traffic, stating that bicycles was not for the poor as perceived by some people.

“Apart from competing in sports, cycling also assists to improve the mental wellbeing of an individual, creating a path for cyclists is not the job of the Federal Government but Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and State governments.

“We will help you to liaise with State governments to create easy pathways for cyclists, because if more bicycles are on our roads it would help reduce traffic, cyclists need safer routes to ride.

“I think more elites will ride bicycles, if we put a path for them to ride for safety, riding a bicycle is not a sign of poverty,” he said.

According to him, people are afraid they will lose their lives because motorists are impatient people, if they ride.

Amaechi further said that the Federal Government would liaise with the FCT and state governments to create easy pathways to enable bicycle riders move around without impediments.

Mr Giandomenico Massari, the CFN president, said that the United Nations World Bicycle day would help to resuscitate the culture of cycling in Nigeria and improve healthy living.

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He said that they have paid courtesy calls on some agencies as part of the celebration for this year’s World Cycling Day to advocate for cycling being a safer and reliable means of transport.

Massari said that bicycle riders came out in large numbers to create awareness on cycling across Abuja, imploring other Nigerians to be part of the cycling team.

He said that the federation in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other stakeholders joined the rest of the world on June 4- 5 to mark the World Bicycle Day.

chika ebuzor